Shloka 13

Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna

Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

चौरादिसंकटे ज्ञेयं पार्थिवानां शतद्वयम् । डाकिन्यादिभये पंचशतमुक्तं जपार्थिवम्

Transliteration

caurādisaṃkaṭe jñeyaṃ pārthivānāṃ śatadvayam | ḍākinyādibhaye paṃcaśatamuktaṃ japārthivam

Translation

దొంగలు మొదలైన ప్రమాదకాలంలో పార్థివ (మట్టి) లింగాల సంఖ్య రెండువందలు అని తెలుసుకోవాలి. డాకినీ మొదలైన భయాల్లో ఐదువందల పార్థివ-లింగ జపం చేయాలని ఉపదేశించబడింది.

Word by Word

• चौर-आदि-संकटे: in the danger from thieves etc.
• चौर-आदि-संकटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + संकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—चौरादीनां संकटे (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Vidhi (विधेय/आज्ञार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञातव्यम्’ = should be known

• पार्थिवानाम्: of the earthen (lingas/offerings)
• पार्थिवानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• शत-द्वयम्: two hundred
• शत-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वपद) = ‘two hundreds’

• डाकिनी-आदि-भये: in fear from ḍākinīs etc.
• डाकिनी-आदि-भये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—डाकिन्यादीनां भये (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• पञ्च-शतम्: five hundred
• पञ्च-शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः = ‘five hundred’

• उक्तम्: is stated
• उक्तम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• जप-अर्थिवम्: earthen (linga) meant for japa
• जप-अर्थिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—जपार्थम् (for japa) + (पार्थिवम्) इति अर्थे, तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the prescribed Shiva-worship observances to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse teaches that disciplined, counted Pārthiva-liṅga worship is a Saguna Shiva practice that steadies the mind in संकट (crisis) and invokes Shiva’s protective grace to remove भय (fear) and बाधा (obstacles).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By prescribing specific numbers of earthen liṅgas for japa/pujā, the text emphasizes the Liṅga as the accessible, compassionate form of Shiva through which devotees seek protection and purification while progressing toward higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Pārthiva-liṅga japa/pujā with a set count: 200 for threats like theft, and 500 for fears connected with ḍākinīs and similar afflictions—typically accompanied by mantra-japa (often the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).